An undeniable connection between efficacy and compliance in symptom relief

Inflammatory skin diseases affect millions of people around the world. The prevalence of these chronic dermatology conditions and the nature of their symptoms mean treatments need to be effective as well as convenient, safe and easy to use.
Dermatology therapies developed through in-depth clinical research and designed with patient needs and lifestyles in mind may lead to better treatment compliance, improved efficacy and, in turn, greater patient satisfaction.

Target conditions for dermatology light therapy research

Psoriasis and eczema, two of the most common chronic skin conditions, are key areas of research and development. Advances in treating symptoms continue to provide new solutions for patients and clinicians.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis vulgaris (Pv) is a chronic skin disease characterized by red, scaly plaques on the skin. These plaques are caused by a highly accelerated regeneration of the skin accompanied by a sustained inflammation. Depending on different criteria, such as the proportion of the body affected and the extent of symptoms (Psoriasis Area Severity Index, PASI) as well as the effect on the quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index, DLQI), psoriasis is classified into three different categories: mild, moderate and severe. Treatment recommendations are then based on the assigned severity level.

Eczema

Eczema is the general term for a set of chronic skin conditions that typically present with red, inflamed skin accompanied by intense itching. The exact cause is unknown, but many people affected by the disease have an impaired skin barrier function, allowing irritants and allergens to enter the skin. These are detected by immune cells - e.g. dendritic cells – which activate other inflammatory cells - e.g. T cells - stimulating the release of inflammatory substances. These attract further inflammatory and immune cell subtypes to the skin leading to a sustained inflammation of the skin.

Initial studies1, 2 have shown that blue light suppresses immune cell activation and is beneficial for eczema patients. In a clinical investigation blue LED light significantly improved local symptoms of eczema in patients treated over four weeks. Patient compliance was very high and no adverse events were reported, making blue light a safe and innovative treatment option for eczema3.

Key topics and advances in dermatology and light therapy

In this study human keratinocytes and skin-derived endothelial cells were irradiated with light-emitting-diode devices of distinct wavelengths to study the effects on cell physiology. Blue light is shown to decrease the proliferation of these skin cells while enhancing their differentiation.

Prospective randomized study on the efficacy of blue light in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.5

The difference of LPSI scores of the irradiated plaques compared to the control plaques showed statistically significant improvement after four weeks of treatment. Blue light appears to be a promising treatment modality in Pv that warrants further evaluation in larger studies.

Wearable textile-based phototherapy systems.9

Prospective, randomized study on the efficacy and safety of blue light in the local treatment of eczema.3

Blue light has been shown to reduce the activation of T-cells and modulate cytokine release in vitro. We investigated the efficacy of local blue light treatment of eczema with 21 patients with mild to moderate eczema for four weeks in a clinical investigation. Patients showed a compliance rate of 100%. The blue light treatment was safe with no adverse events and no side effects. The patients experienced a significant reduction in eczema symptoms over the study period.

Blue LED lightPotential for a range of medical applications across the health continuum

Blue light has a wavelength of 400–490 nm and is part of the light spectrum that is visible to the human eye. Blue light does not contain any UV-radiation and penetrates deeply into the skin. It is known that blue light has positive effects on the human body. LEDs are known for their energy efficiency, compact design and stability. The combination – blue LEDs – is a promising and powerful tool for medical applications. Research shows that LEDs used for medical treatments require special features that exceed those of conventional LEDs, including high intensities and tailored adjustments such as pulsed LED light. With blue LEDs optimized specifically for health applications, patients receive the benefits of phototherapy through the gentle, natural process-inducing characteristics of LED light in the visible blue spectrum.

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